Harry Boyd Ray
Agency patch
Patrolman

Harry Boyd Ray

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 7, 1958
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Harry Ray was shot and killed while making a traffic stop near Santee, South Carolina. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Ray, the occupants had just committed an armed robbery and were fleeing the scene when they were pulled over. The suspects shot Patrolman Ray eight times, killing him. All three suspects were apprehended. Two of them were sentenced to death and executed for the crime. The third suspect was sentenced to serve several years in prison. Patrolman Ray was a U.S. Navy veteran and was assigned to Orangeburg County.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-7C2F4855
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Ray served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Blythewood, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 7, 1958
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Executed

Military Service

Harry Boyd Ray served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Harry Boyd Ray is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina Highway Patrol, 20 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina Highway Patrol
20
of 52 officers
38.5% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harry Boyd Ray's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Harry Boyd Ray Compares

Offender Outcome

Executed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harry Boyd Ray is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harry Boyd Ray was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518